Download - Soc 204 goldberg ch 9
SOC 204 Drugs & Society
Goldberg Chapter 9Sedative-Hypnotic Drugs
Sedative-Hypnotic Drugs (depressants)
• Drugs that slow activity in the central nervous system
• Include prescription drugso To treat anxiety: sedativeso To treat insomnia: hypnotics
• Alcohol is the most widely used depressant• Benzodiazepines are the most widely prescribed
depressants
The nonmedical use of controlled medications
by adolescents is increasing.
A. TrueB. False
TrueFa
lse
4%
96%
Sedative-Hypnotic Drugs
• Sedative-hypnotic drugs are central nervous system depressants that produce relaxing to sleep-inducing effects
• Three main types of sedative-hypnotic drugs:o Barbiturateso Nonbarbiturate sedativeso Minor tranquilizers
Classification• Classified based on potency and the length of
time they act:o Ultra-short-actingo Short-acting (less than 4 hours)o Intermediate-acting (4 to 6 hours)o Long-acting (more than 6 hours)
• Drugs that take effect rapidly have a higher abuse potential than slow-acting drugs
Sedative-Hypnotic Drugs
A. Increase energyB. Depress the CNSC. Are very quick-
actingD. Have little potential
for abuseIncre
ase energy
Depress the CNS
Are very quick-acti
ng
Have little potential fo
r ...
8% 4%16%
72%
Effects• Produce a depressed, mood-altering action on the
central nervous system – act on GABA
• Slow activity of the cardiovascular, muscular and respiratory systems
• Can cause confusion, inadequate emotional control, slurred speech, poor judgment, and intoxication
Medical Uses• Used primarily to treat
o Anxietyo Insomniao Convulsive disorders
• Short-acting barbiturates continue to be used for anesthetic purposes
Mechanisms of Action• Benzodiazepines and
barbiturateso Enhance inhibitory effects of GABA
• Non-benzodiazepine hypnoticso Selectively target the GABA-A receptoro Work better as sleep aids rather than anti-
anxiety medicationso Zolpidem (Ambien), zaleplon (Sonata),
eszopiclone (Lunesta)
Medical uses for barbiturates do NOT
include:A. Treating
depressionB. Reducing
anxietyC. Controlling
seizuresD. Inducing sleep
Treating depressi
on
Reducing an
xiety
Controllin
g seizu
res
Inducing sle
ep
54%
38%
8%0%
Non-barbiturate Sedatives
• Older drugs with similar actions to barbiturates• With the advent of safer drugs, rarely used now
• Chloral hydrate 1832• Paraldehyde 1882• Bromides 1960s
Adolescent boys are more likely
to give medications to their
friends than adolescent girls.
A. TrueB. False
TrueFa
lse
0%0%
Barbiturates• Veronal was introduced in 1903• Barbiturates classifications
o Short-acting• Pentobarbital, secobarbital
o Intermediate-acting• Amobarbital, butabarbital
o Long-acting• Mephbarbital, phenobarbital
Barbiturates, continued
• Sodium Pentathol 1934• Meprobamate 1950s• Methaqualone 1965
• Great risk for physical and psychological dependence
• Produce a depressed, mood-altering action on the central nervous system – act on GABA
• Slow activity of the cardiovascular, muscular and respiratory systems
• Can cause confusion, inadequate emotional control, slurred speech, poor judgment, and intoxication
Dangers• Tolerance• Lethal in combination with alcohol• Withdrawal severe, can be fatal
Benzodiazepines• 1960 introduced chordiazepoxide (Librium)• 1970s introduced diazepam (Valium)• Dependence and overdose can occur
o Toleranceo Withdrawalo Rarer than with barbiturateso More common in combination with alcohol
• Wider margin of safety and fewer side effects than barbiturates
• Used to treat anxiety
Hypnotics• Non-
benzodiazepines (Ambien, Lunesta, Sonata)o Short-term treatment
of insomnia o Short half-lifeo Less dependency, less
tolerance, less carry-over
Doctors are more likely
to prescribe
barbiturates for sleep
now than they were 20
years ago.
A. TrueB. False
TrueFa
lse
0%0%
In comparison to barbiturates,
benzodiazepines A. Have more severe
side effects B. Are not addictiveC. Do not cause
withdrawal symptoms
D. Have a wider safety margin
Have more se
vere sid
e ef...
Are not addicti
ve
Do not cause w
ithdrawal...
Have a wider s
afety margin
8%
73%
19%
0%
Do you know someone who has had their drink spiked with GHB or
roofies?A. I think soB. I don’t think so
I think s
o
I don’t t
hink so
65%
35%
Do you know someone who has drugged someone else by spiking their
drink?A. I think soB. I don’t think so
I think s
o
I don’t t
hink so
64%
36%
Gamma Hydroxybutyric Acid
• Naturally occurring chemical found in brain and body
• Similar to GABA• Causes CNS depression• Has been used as an anesthetic• Considered a date-rape drug
o Along with Rohypnol and Ketamine• GHB is listed on Schedule I
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPtcU_8yvR4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwtBEkFXBjQhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2udrpuNxcmM
When it is used in conjunction with
alcohol, the effects of Rohypnol can be
fatal.
A. TrueB. False
TrueFa
lse
6%
94%
Inhalants• Most frequently used class
of illegal drugs among adolescents aged 12 and 13
• Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome
Inhalants• High-dose exposure causes
intoxication• Examples:
o Volatile solventso Aerosols, propellants, gaseso Anestheticso Nitrites
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3g99h4qaCio
Inhalants• Most abusers are very young• Abuse tends to occur as localized fads• Dangers:
o Kidney damageo Brain damageo Peripheral nerve damageo Irritation of respiratory tracto Severe headacheo Death by suffocation
The highest rate of inhalant use
by youths occurs among
Asians.
A. TrueB. False
TrueFa
lse
42%
58%
More people die from inhaling air
fresheners than from inhaling gasoline.
A. TrueB. False
TrueFa
lse
0%0%
Nitrous oxide has been used as an
anesthetic by dentists.
A. TrueB. False
TrueFa
lse
0%
100%
Benefits Risks
• Anxiolytics• Sleeping agents• Anticonvulsants
• Dependenceo Tolerance & Cross Toleranceo Withdrawal
• Toxicityo Behavioralo Physiological
• Can be fatal with alcohol• Patterns of abuse